Thefirst day of school has come and gone, but for most of the working world, being brand new in a challenging new place can happen just about anytime. And while the high school cafeteria is a pretty challenging environment, the office break room, the company gym, and the after-hours mixer can be just as fraught. If you’re a professional- the sort who cards about what footwear they are putting on and perhaps has a selection of ties or belts to match- then you probably care about what you’re carrying. Briefcases are old school- certainly necessary if you’re a lawyer but a bit traditional if you’re not. Maybe the right backpack can blend the more casual modern workplace with the functionality and comfort you need.

That’s basically the aim of the Victorinox Architecture Urban series, and specifically the Corbusier Laptop Backpack. Every element of the design, from cosmetic to functionality, is geared towards young professionals who are tired of messenger bags, don’t need to carry cameras, but want to bring their laptop and perhaps a tablet with them. This is a bag so new that it doesn’t seem to be on the official site yet, but we’ve been testing it out over the past few weeks while commuting via bicycle and subway, wearing everything up toa full suit.

A few tricks help make it business appropriate- the real leather bands and buckles add a touch of formality, the dark grey color keeps it mature, the subtle branding make it classy. Missing are the mesh pockets on the sides of most bags in favor of zippered ones, and the overall effect connects to the militaristic Swiss Army past of the brand. It’s also not too large or bulky- sized ideally for a laptop like a Macbook Air rather than a 17-inch behemoth, the sleeve fits up to a 14″ model (and there is an extra slot capable of holding a 10” iPad, tablet or eReader as well). The exterior pockets feature water-resistant zippers to protect the contents, and the Nuwa fabric is eco-friendly as well as abrasion-resistant. There is more structure to the Urban Corbusier than your normal backpack (befitting the Architecture name), which means it keeps it’s form even when empty or only partially full.

The flipside of this: the Victorinox Corbusier is a little less flexible- you can’t readily stuff this bag full of a week’s worth of clothes and random extra and expect it all to fit. But the materials all feel premium, from the YKK zipper pulls to the lining. It’s not made for hiking or camping- there’s no hipbelt- but the straps are fairly comfortable and adjustable and the back of the bag is textured so that it won’t make you too sweaty (nor damage your jacket). Available now, online and in stores, expect to spend around $225 on the Victorinox Architecture Urban Corbusier backpack.

About the Author

Greg Greg dreamed up the idea for the Truly Network while living in Hawaii, which began with a single site called TrulyObscure. In 2010, when advertisers and readers were requesting coverage beyond the scope of that site, TrulyNet was launched, reaching a broader audience over a variety of niche sites.
Formerly the head technology correspondent for the Des Moines Register at age 16, he has since lived and worked in five states and two countries, helping a list of organizations and companies that includes the United States Census Bureau, TripAdvisor, Events Photo Group, Berlitz, and Computer Geeks. He also served as the Content Strategy Manager for HearPlanet, a multi-platform app that has reached over a million users and has been featured in the New York Times, Hemispheres Magazine, National Geographic Adventure, Fox Business News, PC Magazine, and even Apple’s own iPhone ads.
Greg has written as a restaurant critic and feature journalist for a number of national and international publications, including City Weekend Magazine, Red Egg Magazine, the Newton Daily News, Capital Change Magazine, and an arm of China Daily, Beijing Weekend. In addition, he has served as a consulting editor for the Foreign Language Press of Beijing, as well as a writer and editor for the George Washington University Hatchet, the school newspaper of his alma mater.
Originally from Iowa, Greg is currently living in the West Village of Manhattan.